74 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [Vor. XXXIV. 
(sp. nov.)," by A. Moore; “Some Muscinz of North America," by 
G. de N. Hough; and “ Experimental Studies upon Hydromedusz,” 
by C. W. Hargitt. Under the head of *Bibliography and Publica- 
tion " is printed the second report of the English committee on these 
subjects. 
BOTANY. 
The Last Contribution from the U.S. National Herbarium’ is 
one of the largest and best of this valuable series. It is chiefly 
written by Dr. J. N. Rose, and is largely devoted to the Mexican 
flora. The more noteworthy features are: (1) a proposed rearrange- 
ment of the suborder Agavez, in which eight genera are recognized, 
Manfreda is kept distinct from Agave, Bravoa is reduced to Poli- 
anthes, and a new genus, Pseudobravoa, is established; (2) a synop- 
sis of the small but difficult leguminous genus Nissolia, in which 
thirteen species are recognized and figured; (3) partial keys to the 
Mexican and Central American species of Zanthoxylum, Turnera, 
and Clitoria; (4) a considerable series of critical notes on the 
Malvacez, in which Anoda incarnata H. B. K. and a nearly related 
new species are united in the reéstablished and undoubtedly valid 
genus Periptera; (5) a synopsis of the species of Waltheria and 
Cedrela ranging north of the Isthmus of Panama; (6) a key to the 
Mexican and Central American species of Thalictrum; (7) the char- 
acterization of many new and capitally illustrated Mexican species 
of various orders; (8) the description of Treleasea, a new genus 
of Commelynacez, with three species ranging from Texas southward 
into Mexico; (9) notes on useful plants of Mexico. 
The last subject is treated under the following heads: cereals and 
vegetables, fruits, beverage plants, seasoning and flavoring plants, 
medicinal plants, soap plants, tanning and dye plants, fibre plants, 
" brush and broom plants, fence and hedge plants. The illustrations, 
chiefly half-tones, are numerous, clear, and well chosen. 
Regarding the systematic part of Dr. Rose's work, it may be said 
that it bears internal evidence of great care and good judgment. 
The copious and painstaking citation of literature and synonymy 
testifies to the excellence of the present bibliographical methods in 
the botanical work of the department of agriculture under Mr. 
Coville’s direction. The economic portions of the paper have 
1 Vol. v, No. 4, pp. 145-259, t. 18-64; issued Oct. 31, 1899. 
